IMPENETRABLE DEVICES
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Over the centuries inventors have designed and built many amazing, bizarre and menacing
devices designed to fend off sexual assault. Many of these devices were as primitive as the
medieval chastity belt while recently invented anti-rape tampons contain embedded DNA
sampling microprocessors or internal hooks designed to snare rapists The early artistic
embellishments of medieval devices gave way to the pragmatic and ergonomic designs of the
21st century.
Artist Ira Sherman has applied his "mechanized prosthesis" aesthetic from his past sculptures into
a new exhibition of fantastic mechanisms, he has titled "Impenetrable Devices". This small touring
exhibition or 16 wildly imaginative stainless steel prosthesis have been designed to protect and
defend women and men's most vulnerable and tender anatomy. The artist has applied an
exquisite mechanized aesthetic to address the delicate emotions of anger and pain resulting from
sexual assault. Sherman drew inspiration for his new exhibition from interviews he conducted with
one male and four female rape victims. I asked, "What messages would you like me to convey in
the sculptures I plan to create?" Each victim gave me a list of ideas they would like me to
express. Sherman's sculptures are beautiful, medically graphic, anatomically correct, intimately
worn, stainless steel prosthesis that effectively stop any intruder but in no way are limited by
considerations of practicality. His sculpture titled, "The Injector", uses two pneumatically
energized hypodermic syringes to inject tattoo dye and powerful sedatives into a rapist,
simultaneously dropping the criminal in his tracks and enabling positive identification. Another
wearable Sherman sculpture uses a form fitted battery powered video surveillance device to
"monitor" and document a possible attack. Sherman's sculptures create a wonderful confusion to
those who give his work careful consideration...is this art or is this for real?
devices designed to fend off sexual assault. Many of these devices were as primitive as the
medieval chastity belt while recently invented anti-rape tampons contain embedded DNA
sampling microprocessors or internal hooks designed to snare rapists The early artistic
embellishments of medieval devices gave way to the pragmatic and ergonomic designs of the
21st century.
Artist Ira Sherman has applied his "mechanized prosthesis" aesthetic from his past sculptures into
a new exhibition of fantastic mechanisms, he has titled "Impenetrable Devices". This small touring
exhibition or 16 wildly imaginative stainless steel prosthesis have been designed to protect and
defend women and men's most vulnerable and tender anatomy. The artist has applied an
exquisite mechanized aesthetic to address the delicate emotions of anger and pain resulting from
sexual assault. Sherman drew inspiration for his new exhibition from interviews he conducted with
one male and four female rape victims. I asked, "What messages would you like me to convey in
the sculptures I plan to create?" Each victim gave me a list of ideas they would like me to
express. Sherman's sculptures are beautiful, medically graphic, anatomically correct, intimately
worn, stainless steel prosthesis that effectively stop any intruder but in no way are limited by
considerations of practicality. His sculpture titled, "The Injector", uses two pneumatically
energized hypodermic syringes to inject tattoo dye and powerful sedatives into a rapist,
simultaneously dropping the criminal in his tracks and enabling positive identification. Another
wearable Sherman sculpture uses a form fitted battery powered video surveillance device to
"monitor" and document a possible attack. Sherman's sculptures create a wonderful confusion to
those who give his work careful consideration...is this art or is this for real?
An Exhibition of Mechanized Anti-Rape Devices
".......Stunning, Edgy, Elegant, Wildly Imaginative"
Publications
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Copyright © 1998-2018 Ira D. Sherman l All rights reserved
IRA SHERMAN
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